As a humanitarian crisis deepens in Uganda, where 2 million refugees are struggling to survive, the international community is facing an uncomfortable truth: drastic aid funding cuts have severe consequences for those most in need. The country's progressive stance on refugees, offering freedom of movement and the right to work, has been severely tested by reductions in food rations and critical healthcare services, directly impacting those displaced from conflicts in neighbouring Sudan and South Sudan.
The strain is particularly acute in settlements such as Kiryandongo, home to over 167,000 people. Despite reports indicating new arrivals continue daily, exacerbating pressure on dwindling resources, the UNHCR has only secured 12% of its estimated £640 million funding for operations in Uganda this year. The resulting shortfall has had immediate and devastating consequences, including reduced access to essential services.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to scale back support, now assisting just 663,000 refugees compared to 1.6 million in early 2025. This reduction has led to a nearly 50% increase in acute malnutrition among children under five. Meanwhile, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warns that Uganda's health system in refugee areas is on the brink of collapse, with their health budget for Uganda plummeting from approximately £13.6 million in 2025 to £4 million in January. This has led to the closure of health clinics in eleven refugee settlements and the layoff of around 80% of staff.
These closures have left refugees like Suzan Mandera from South Sudan facing journeys of up to nine miles to access medical care, only to find medicine stocks critically low or non-existent. Dr. Nicholas Sabiiti, a medical officer at the Panyadole health centre, reports a severe lack of staff, with over half having been let go in 2025, leading to immense pressure on remaining personnel. This strain is contributing to delays in patient care and a concerning rise in complications, such as newborn deaths and maternal infections.
The UK Government's humanitarian aid efforts, provided through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), include contributions to Uganda's refugee programmes. While specific figures on recent UK aid to these programs were not immediately available, the broader context of reduced international funding raises questions about the UK's ongoing commitment and strategy for supporting vulnerable populations abroad. The FCDO's travel advice for Uganda does highlight the general humanitarian situation in some border regions but does not directly address the impact of aid cuts on refugee settlements.